Storage-battery electrode.



PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

E. A. SPERRY. STORAGE BATTERY ELECTRODE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.2'I,1904.

jzrentor Radar .9

74 17165565 Mm i3.

No. 781,795. Patented February 7,

UNITED STATes l ATENT titties;

TU jxa'rioxl i. coerce-tries ELMER A. SPERRY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO. ASSlGNUll BAT'IERY COMPANY, OFBUFFALO, NEW YORK, A OF NEW. YORK.

STORAGE-"BATTERY ELECTRODE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 781,795, dated. February 7, 1905.

Application filed January 27. 1904. Serial No. 190,878.

To 11/! whom, it 711/1111 (:mwcrn:

lle it known that I. Emma A. SPERRY. acitizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the'countv of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storage-Battery Electrodes, of which the 't'ollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to electrodes of the class in whicha grid or support carries a body of active material. such as leadoxid, and especially to the large electrodes which are used in central stations. Such electrodes are sub. ject to rapid deterioration on account of the i change in volume of the active material which bends and distorts the grid or support.

The improved electrode consists of a frame having rectangular openings containing separate electrode-sections, each of which is sccured to the frame at' its upper edge only, leaving spaces between its side and-bottom edges and the "frame. Each section is prefer ably inclosed in an envelop of a pyroxylin fabric and is retained in the frame-opening by lugs which extend from the frame.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the electrode. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the electrode-frame. Fig, 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the electrode-sections and the surrounding frame, and Fig. 4: is atransverse vertical section of the parts shown in The electrode 1 consists of a framework of vertical and horizontal bars-2, which intersect at right ugles and provide rectangular openings 3. Theframe is preferably cast of antimonial lead in upper and lower half-sectiohs, the adjaci-ntcdges of which are beveled and burned together orconnected by lines of solder 4. fused into the depressions between the beveled edges. \Yithin each opening 3 is suspended an electrode-section 5, which is secured to the'frame at its upper edge only. The adjacent edges of the frame-bar 2 and the upper edge 6 of the electrode-sectionare beveled at their middle for a distance equal to one-third the length of thcscction toprovide recesses T 8. The section is secured to the frame by bodies of solder 9, fused into the dc p'ressions at each side. The electrode-see r ving active material. comprises a thin lead web 1U, with marginal flanges 6. tcrial '12 are punched out of the web. Each fabric. The cover shown consists of a broad piece 13 of a p yroxylin fabric which is folded over the bottom edge and up the sides of the section and a strip 14 of pyrox vlin fabric which is doubly wound over the piece 1 be ginning and ending at the top. The free end ll of the strip is secured by inserting it beneath the piecc.13. Each elcctrodwscction,

the rectangular opening in which it hangs, so that narrow spaces are left between its side edges and the frame and a somewhat wider space between its bottom edge and the frame. Pairs of lateral retaining-lugs 15 15) extend from the frame over each edge of the sections. The lugs are preferably located twothirds the distance from the top to the bottom of the openings, and the lugs of each pair are out of vertical alincrnent to facilitate insertion pf the sections.

Each of the electrode-sections-being connected to theframe along the middle of its upper edge only is free to buckle without bending the frame-bars .2. This is an important improvement over electrodes in which the sections are rigidly attached to the frame along their entire upper edge or at two points on the edge at a considerable distance apart. since) the. expansion, contraction, and buckling of sections which are thus connected invariably warp the entire electrode even when a heavy frame is employed. Furthermore, the location of the retaining-lugs '15 v15 is such that the bending of each electrode-section produces the minimum deviation. For example, if any section be assumed to bend in acircular curve from its upper to its lower end the deflection of the lower edge of the lower third of the section from its true position will be equal to the greatest deflection tions may consist of an; grid oi; support car- The sections shown Spurs 11 to retain the active niasection is preferably incioscd in a cover of with its cover, is narrower and shorter than of the upper two-thirds at its middle. The long burned or soldered union 9 lit-tween the frame-bar and the upper edge of the section materially strengthens both the frame. and the section, tending to prevent transverse buckling of either.,, The length of the union,

however, is such that the frame-bar is not unduly stretched by transverse expansion of the section.

'The fabric cover of each section not only prevents adjacent electrodes from coming in contact, but serves as a cushioning means for the section as it becomes expanded by-use. As the section expands, the fabric at the side edges begins to bear against the adjacent frame-bars; but as there are several thicknesses of fabric along these edges the pres-' sure on the frame-bars is a yielding one. This cushioningaction is important in portable batteries and permits the use of a lighter frame and onecontaininga higher percentage of antimony, and which istherefore brittle, although more resistant to oxidation.

' l. A storagebattery electrode, consistin ofa frame having openings containing elec- 'trode-sections, each section comprising a sup-l port carrying active material secured tov said frame by a rigid union along the middle of its upper edge but free at its ends, as set forth. "2r A storage-battery electrode, consisting ofa frame having rectangular openings containing electrode-sections, each section coniprisinga support carrying active material and secured to said frame by a rigid union along the middle of its upper edge for a distance equal to about one-third the length ofsaid edge, as set forth.

3. "A. storage-battery elect-rode, consisting of a frame having rectangular openings.con

taining electrode-sections, each section comas set-forth.

, 5. A. storage-battery electrode, consisting of a frame having rectangular openings containing electrodesections, said sections being secured to said frame ,at.their-upper edges being narrower than those atthe bottom, and

lateral retaining lugs extending from said frame over said sections, as set forth.

6. A storage-battery electrode, consisting of a frame having rectangular openings. an electrode-section hung loosely in each opening, and means for preventing the lateral edges of each section from IiIOVlDg OULOf the plane of said frame in either direction, as set forth.

7.. A storage-battery electrode consisting of a frame having rectangular openings, pairs of lateral retaining-lugs one on each side of said electrode, and an electrode-section hung loosely in each opening and held at each lateral edge by a pair of lugs. as, set forth.

8. A storage-battery electrode, consisting of a frame having rectangular Qpenings, pairs of lateral retaining-lugs one on each side of said electrode. the lugs of each pair being vertically out of alinemen t, and an electrode-section secured ineach opening and held by a pair oflugs, as set forth.

9. A storage-battery electrode, consisting of a frame having rectangular openings, an electrode-section in each opening and secured to said frame at its upper edge, with spaces between its side and bottom edges and said frame, the side spaces being narrower than the bottom space, and cushioning means in said spaces, the cushioning means being thicker at the side than at the bottom, as set forth.

, 10. A storage-battery electrode, consisting of a frame having rectangular'openi-ngs containing electrode-sections, each section comprising a support carrying active material and secured to said frame, the adjacent edges of said frame and support being beveled to provide dep essions, and bodies of metal fused in said depressions and serving to unite said frame and support, asset forth. v

11. A storage-batter vielectrode, consistin of a frame-having rectangular openings containing electrode-sections, each section comprising a support carrying active material and secured to said frame at the middle of its upper edge, the adjacent edges of said frame and support being beveled along the middle third of the section to provide depressions, and bodies of metal fused in said depressions and serving to unite said frame and support, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix niy-s'ignatulre'in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER' A. sensed.

Witnesses: H i I JOHN H. SIGGERS,

EUGENE A. "BYRNns. 

